Back pad and tie for infants&#39; chairs



' P. J. MEYER BACK PAD AND TIE FOR INFANTS CHAIRS April 1, 1941.

Filed Nov. 7, 1939 Patented Apr. 1, 1941 BACK PAD AND TIE FOR INFANTSCHAIRS Paul J. Meyer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Kenlit Mfg. 00.,Medford, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 7,1939, Serial No. 303,247

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to cushions or pads adapted to be used inconnection with the backs of high chairs, and other chairs, provided forthe use of infants of tender years. 'Its object is to provide inconnection with such a cushion or pad a strap or equivalent tie memberfor both securing the cushion in place and guarding the child occupyingthe chair against danger of falling or slipping out of the chair. Afurther object is to afford a permanent connection between the tiemember and cushion and, at the same time, provide tensile strength inthe combination ample for securing the child in the chair withoutdepending on the strength of the cushion itself or its covering, or thestrength of the connection between the cushion and tie member.

In carrying these objects into effect I have produced a combined chairback cushion and tie member of which one embodiment is illustrated inthe drawing furnished herewith and is described in the followingspecification. The invention comprises all the novel principles andfeatures of the embodiment so illustrated and of equivalent articlesexemplifying the same principles and embraced within the scope of theapbination of this invention and illustrating its manner of use to holda child in the chair;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the cushion and tiecombination apart from the chair, illustrating the details thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showingdetails not apparent in the preceding figure.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occurin all the figures.

The cushion designated as a whole by the reference character a isadapted to be placed against the forward side of the back of a chair,such as the babys high chair represented in Fig. 1, above the seat ofthe chair and between the arm rests with which such chairs arecustomarily provided. In the form here shown, this cushion is made of acover consisting of a front piece I) and a back piece 0 of suitablefabric, stitched together at their edges, and a stuffing d within thecover. As here shown the edges of the fabric pieces are brought togetherand embraced by a binding e, such edges and binding being securedtogether by a sewed seam.

The tie member is a strap 1 which extends continuously across the backof the cushion and has this is not a limiting characteristic.

end portions J" and f projecting from the opposide side edges of thecushion. The intermediate portion of the strap, to which the referencecharacter ,f is applied in Fig. 3, is preferably located between therear fabric of the cushion cover and the stuffing; although, as willpresently appear, The strap extends outward between the edges of thepieces forming the cover, being doubled back where overlaid by thebinding, and is secured by the stitches of the connecting seampreviously described.

The end portions f and have lengths great enough to permit them to bepassed across the front of the body occupying the chair and around thechair back with" an overlap permitting their extremities to be fastenedtogether in rear of the chair back. I have shown here a fastening meansof known character consisting of two rings g and h loosely confined in aloop 1 formed on the extremity of the strap portion f through which theextremity of the other strap end portion 1" may be passed so as toprovide a clamping grip. But a buckle or other conventional connectormay be provided; or the ends may be tied together in a knot.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the tie memberor strap has the purpose and capacity of tying both the cushion and thebaby in the chair, When wrapped around and coupled at the ends asdescribed, it makes a secure attachment making it equally impossible foreither the baby or the cushion to fall or slide out of the chair. Animportant factor is the continuity of the strap across the width of thecushion. Preferably the portions f, ,f' and f are all parts of oneintegral whole. But whether so made or made of united originallyseparate parts, the strap as a whole is a continuous unit of amplestrength in all parts. It does not depend for its functional utilityupon the strength of its connections with the cushion or the strength ofthe cushion cover or any part thereof; but it provides its own strengthregardless of what the material or intrinsic strength of the cushioncover may be or of how it is fastened to the cushion. With the mode offastening here shown, it is immaterial whether or not the stitchespassing through the strap and contiguous points of the cushion edges arebroken in consequence of a severe pull on the strap. If they are broken,the strap remains intact and retains its association with the cushion atthe prescribed level. The seam is of lockstitch construction, wherebythe breakage of a few stitches at any location does not endanger thesecurity of the seam as a whole or in any manner disrupt the combinedrelationship of the strap with the cover.

Variations from the construction shown may be made within the scope ofthe invention. For example, the strap may pass across the outside of thecushion cover instead of inside and be united by stitching at anysuitable points to the cover, or it may be passed through slits in thecover material. And the cushion .element of the combination may beconstructed otherwise than as shown; for instance, with an intermediateedge strip between the front and the back fabrics of the cover,according to one of the common constructions of chair cushions. Thestrap may be of any material, any dimensions, and any desired shape incross section and fabricated or constructed in any Way suitable for thepurpose. As used herein the term strap is intended to include anyequivalent device, however formed and constructed, such as a twistedcord, for instance.

The embodiment here illustrated is combined with-side cushions a and kfor padding the arm rests of the chair, but this is an illustrative andnot a limiting feature.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A back cushion or pad adapted for use in connection with the back ofan infants high chair, and a strap secured to the opposite side edges ofsaid pad,'having a portion extending across the width of the pad and endportions of lengths sufiicient to be passed about the body of an infantoccupying such a chair and to be connected together at the rear of thechair back.

2. The combination with a chair cushion having a covering and astufling, of a strap passing through the interior of the cushion andextending from opposite edges thereof, the outwardly extending portionsof the strap having lengths sufficient to permit of their being passedaround the occupant of the chair for which the cushion is designed andalso around the part of the chair against which the cushion is designedto bear, and to be fastened together outside of the said part of thechair. I

3. A cushion shaped to conform with the back of an infant's high chairand adapted to rest at its lower end on the seat of such chair, combinedwith strap portions secured to said cushion and extending from oppositeside edges thereof at a height from said lower end permitting them topass beneath the arms and above the thighs of a child seated in thechair for which the cushion is designed; said strap portions having acollective length sufiicient to pass around both the torso-of such achild when seated in the chair and a portion of the chair and to besecured to one another.

4. The combination with an infants chair having a back, of a cushionshaped conformably to said back and located in upright position againstthe forward side of said back, combined with a strap having anintermediate portion extending across the cushion between the side edgesthereof and end portions projecting beyond said edges, the strap beingsecured to said cushion at a height suitable to permit said end portionsto be passed around the torso of an infant seated in the chair, and theend portions having a collective length sufiicient to pass around bothsuch torso and the chair back and to be secured to one another at theirextremities.

( PAUL J. MEYER.

